Students: Finance

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wigan on 29 November 2010,  Official Report, column 599W, on further education: transport, what student financial support will be in place in academic year 2011-12; and what changes he plans to make to arrangements for student financial support in the academic year 2012-13.

John Hayes: As outlined in the strategy document 'Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth', published on 16 November 2010, the current arrangements for learner support will start to change from the 2011/12 academic year. An enhanced discretionary learner support fund will be created within the next two years. By arrangements we assume that the question refers to the allocation methodology that the Skills Funding Agency will adopt to distribute the discretionary funding to qualifying providers in 2012/13. Decisions on this allocation method have not yet been finalised but the agency will work closely with the sector on the impact of any changes to ensure funds are targeted on helping those learners facing financial difficulties.

Government Departments: Travel

Paul Maynard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he plans to bring forward measures to reduce the annual cost of grey fleet expenditure to Government departments; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: 'Grey fleet' refers to business miles driven by employees in their own vehicles, and claimed back at a fixed mileage rate. There are clear opportunities to reduce spend in this area.
	The Centralised Procurement Capability being developed by the Efficiency and Reform Group, will transform how Government buys common goods and services through centralised category management.
	Existing effective practice in reducing grey fleet expenditure will be developed as a key element of the travel category, where work is under way to develop a single supply strategy which will deliver significant, sustainable cost reductions through aggregation, standardisation and rationalisation.

Audit Commission: Termination of Employment

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what settlement package has been offered to the Director of Communications at the Audit Commission upon termination of his contract; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of providing such a package.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 3 December 2010:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	The Audit Commission's former Managing Director for Communications and Public Reporting left his post on the grounds of redundancy. He received a redundancy payment of £10,178.54 gross, as provided for in his contract of employment. This entitled him to two weeks pay for each year of service and his service was two years. He was also given eight weeks payment in lieu of notice of £20,357.08 gross. There were no other costs to the public purse.

Fire Services: Pensions

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the likely effects on fire service pensions of the implementation of the proposed change in the measurement of inflation used to up-rate pensions from the retail price index to the consumer price index.

Bob Neill: No special assessment has been made of the effect on pensions paid to members of the Firefighters' pension schemes. Pensions will continue to be protected against price increases and uprated in line with State second pensions.

Football: South Africa

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on entertainment activities related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Bob Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer from my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government (Grant Shapps) to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey) on 5 July 2010,  Official Report, column 86W. More broadly, the Department does not undertake spending on entertainment on sporting events. However, the Department does take steps to enable staff who want to watch major cultural and sporting events such as the World Cup to do so, for example, by adjusting their working day, subject to business priorities.

Local Government Finance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to ensure that areas with high levels of inward migration receive adequate funding in the forthcoming local government finance settlement.

Bob Neill: We use the best data that are available on a consistent basis across all authorities at the time we calculate the settlement. In the case of population projections, these are the sub national population projections produced by the Office for National Statistics.
	We will announce our proposals for the local government finance settlement for 2011-12 in the usual manner in due course.

School Sport Partnerships: Finance

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the likely effects of the closure of the School Sports Partnership on the participation rates in sport of young people; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 29 November 2010
	The coalition Government's approach differs from that of the last Government. While the network helped schools to increase participation rates in the areas targeted by the previous Government, the fact remains that the proportion of pupils playing competitive sport regularly has remained disappointingly low.
	The Secretary of State has decided to withdraw central funding for the Youth Sports Trust because, in spite of significant central Government expenditure, nearly a quarter of all pupils do not do any competitive sport at all within their own school; and more than half of all pupils do not do any competitive sport at all against other schools.
	Furthermore, the actual provision of competitive sport across the country has been very patchy, with some 1,280 secondary schools having none of their pupils taking part in any intra-school sporting competition, and 710 schools where no pupils regularly take part in any inter-school competition.
	Consequently, the Secretary of State concluded that a fresh approach to school sport is needed and has announced that he will not continue to provide ring-fenced funding for school sport partnerships. By removing all the unnecessary targets and reporting requirements placed on schools by the previous Government's strategy, schools will be freed up to provide more opportunities for competitive sport that are most appropriate for their own pupils. The best way to increase participation is to give schools the freedom and incentives to organise school sport themselves, rather than imposing a central Government blueprint.

Schools: Transport

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to permit schools and colleges to use funding from the Learner Support Fund for the purposes of student transport.

Nick Gibb: Discretionary support funding may not currently be used routinely for transport to and from college. The statutory responsibility for making the necessary arrangements for transport to enable 16 to18-year-olds (and 19 to 25-year-olds with a learning difficulty or disability) to attend education and training lies with local authorities.
	We will consider this restriction as we develop the arrangements for the enhanced discretionary learner support funding.

Youth Sports Trust: Finance

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the future of youth participation in sport of the withdrawal of funding from the Youth Sports Trust.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 29 November 2010
	The coalition Government's approach differs from that of the last Government. While the network helped schools to increase participation rates in the areas targeted by the previous Government, the fact remains that the proportion of pupils playing competitive sport regularly has remained disappointingly low.
	The Secretary of State has decided to withdraw central funding for the Youth Sports Trust because, in spite of significant central Government expenditure, nearly a quarter of all pupils do not do any competitive sport at all within their own school; and more than half of all pupils do not do any competitive sport at all against other schools.
	Furthermore, the actual provision of competitive sport across the country has been very patchy, with some 1,280 secondary schools having none of their pupils taking part in any intra-school sporting competition, and 710 schools where no pupils regularly take part in any inter-school competition.
	Consequently, the Secretary of State concluded that a fresh approach to school sport is needed and has announced that he will not continue to provide ring-fenced funding for school sport partnerships. By removing all the unnecessary targets and reporting requirements placed on schools by the previous Government's strategy, schools will be freed up to provide more opportunities for competitive sport that are most appropriate for their own pupils. The best way to increase participation is to give schools the freedom and incentives to organise school sport themselves, rather than imposing a central Government blueprint.

Conflict Resolution: Females

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The Government are fully committed to reducing the impact of conflict on women and girls and promoting their inclusion in resolving conflict. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) made a statement to the House on 25 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 49-50WS, regarding our new National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
	This plan clearly sets out how the Government will implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 through a range of initiatives in our diplomatic, defence and development activities. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham) launched the plan at an event at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 25 November, involving over 100 representatives drawn from Parliament, civil society groups, Government officials and foreign diplomats.
	Our key commitments are to make "Women, Peace and Security" an integral part of our overseas conflict policy; to implement specific action plans in priority countries, starting with Afghanistan, Nepal and Democratic Republic of Congo; and to strengthen the action taken by the international community. A full copy of the plan is available at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/conflict-prevention/women-peace-security/national-action-plan
	The plan will be reviewed annually, incorporating feedback from civil society focus groups. Annual progress will be reported to Parliament through the Associate Parliamentary Group on Women, Peace and Security. A full evaluation of the plan will be carried out after three years.

Cumberland Infirmary

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he made an estimate of the proportion of the total running costs for Cumberland Infirmary  (a) paid to the private finance initiative provider in each year from 2005-09 and  (b) expected to be paid to that provider in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. However, data for the proportion of total revenue expenditure by North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust in respect of its private finance initiative (PFI) scheme, are set out in the following table.
	Data are not held centrally for 2010-11 or 2011-12.
	
		
			  North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust-proportion of total revenue expenditure relating to PFI 
			   Percentage of total revenue expenditure relating to PFI 
			 2005-06 8.5 
			 2006-07 8.4 
			 2007-08 8.1 
			 2008-09 8.1 
			 2009-10(1) 7.7 
			 (1) 2009-10 accounts were compiled under international finance reporting standards under which PR costs in the audited summarisation schedules of trusts are split between capital repayments and revenue expenditure elements, which does not make a precise like for like comparison with earlier years in this table possible. However, an estimate of the PFI unitary payment for 2009-10 is held centrally by the Department as well as the audited outturn revenue expenditure figure for the trust for this year and the percentage figure for this year is calculated using these two figures.  Notes: 1. The percentages provided represent the net revenue expenditure in respect of PFI schemes as a proportion of total revenue expenditure. 2. 2005-06 to 2008-09 figures compiled under United Kingdom generally accepted accounting practice.  Source: Audited summarisation schedules of the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust for 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Mental Illness: Prisoners

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 October 2010,  Official Report, column 1324W on mental illness: prisoners, when he plans to publish the cross-government mental health strategy.

Paul Burstow: The new mental health strategy, which we plan to publish in the new year, will be based on clear outcomes and will follow a life-course approach. It will aim to establish mental health more clearly as central to a number of initiatives across Government and in the mainstream of local health and social care services. It will aim to give mental health the same prominence as physical health issues such as cancer and heart disease. It will also focus on the importance of increased productivity across the system, while improving quality of services.

EU Law

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which areas the UK has signalled that it does not intend to apply its opt-out to a new EU legislative proposal since 6 May 2010.

James Brokenshire: Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol 21 to the Treaties in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice provide that the UK is not bound by measures adopted pursuant to Title V of Part III of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. However, in accordance with Article 3, the UK may notify the Council within three months of a proposal or initiative being presented to the Council that it wishes to take part: 'an opt-in'. Since 6 May 2010, the UK has notified its wish to participate in the following six proposals:
	The Council Decision on the signature and provisional application of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (Business Innovation and Skills);
	The EU-US agreement on the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme (Treasury);
	The EU-Georgia readmission agreement;
	The draft Directive on combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography (Ministry of Justice);
	The draft Directive on the European Investigation Order (Home Office); and
	The draft Directive on the right to Information in criminal proceedings (Ministry of Justice).
	Since, 6 May 2010 the UK has decided not to participate in a further five such proposals:
	A Commission proposal for a Directive on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal, proceedings (Ministry of Justice);
	The draft Directive to combat human trafficking (Home Office);
	The Council Decision on a proposal to amend the EU-Swiss Agreement on the free movement of workers (Department for Work and Pensions);
	The draft Directive on seasonal workers (Home Office); and
	The draft Directive on intra corporate transferees (Home Office).
	Article 4 of Protocol 19 to the Treaties on the Schengen acquis also provides that the UK may request to take part in some or all of the acquis. The UK participates in some of the acquis. Article 5 of the Protocol provides that the UK is deemed to opt-in to measures building on parts of the acquis in which it participates unless it notifies the Council that it does not wish to take part into the measure-'an opt-out'. Since 6 May 2010 the UK has participated in two measures building on parts of the Schengen acquis in which the UK participates:
	The draft Regulation establishing an Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice; and
	An Arrangement between the EU and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland on the Schengen acquis.
	In addition to this, the previous Government decided to participate in a Council Regulation on migration from the Schengen Information System (SIS I) to the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II). This decision took effect on 8 May 2010.

Forensic Science Services Stakeholder Perception Audit 2010: Finance

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was of the Forensic Science Services Stakeholder Perception Audit 2010.

James Brokenshire: Market research activity by the Forensic Science Service is a matter for the Board and the company.
	I am advised however, that the approximate cost to the company of the exercise and resultant analysis is in the region of £6,000.

Departmental Manpower

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in each division of his Department at each civil service payband  (a) are assigned to work on agricultural issues and  (b) have training in a discipline relevant to agriculture.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports numerous and diverse programmes addressing food security or agricultural development, involving many staff from a range of professional backgrounds. To determine the numbers of all staff involved and the extent of their agricultural related training would incur disproportionate cost.
	DFID has two senior civil service positions and a group of professional livelihoods advisers (currently 57) who are required to have specific expertise and experience in agricultural or rural development, food security, agricultural adaptation to climate change and related livelihoods issues. They must have a minimum of five years relevant experience and a higher degree in a relevant subject. The number of livelihoods staff employed at each civil service pay band are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  DFID grade  Traditional civil service grade  Pay range (London scale)  Number of livelihoods advisers 
			 SCS G5 £60,002-£117,750 2 
			 A1 G6 £58,120-£68,221 22 
			 A2 G7 £47,555-£56,293 34 
			 A2L SEO £30,868-£34,534 1

International Violence against Women Champion

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the remit and responsibilities of the International Violence Against Women Champion in that capacity will be; and what funds will be allocated by his Department for the performance of those responsibilities.

Andrew Mitchell: The ministerial champion for tackling violence against women overseas will be responsible for providing policy coherence and coordination across Whitehall, ensuring that violence against women and girls is fully integrated into our international work. The ministerial champion will represent the United Kingdom overseas, raising the profile of this issue bilaterally and multilaterally with European and international partners.
	In addition, the ministerial champion will actively encourage all relevant Ministers to use the available levers and influence in their domestic, EU and international engagements to drive efforts on eliminating violence against girls and women to the top of the agenda.
	Departments are currently finalising arrangements for support and funding for the role.

Tristan Da Cunha: Ports

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  for what reasons his Department decided to approve the allocation of funding to repair the harbour on Tristan Da Cunha;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of repairs to Calshot harbour on Tristan Da Cunha;
	(3)  what information his Department holds on the  (a) population of Tristan Da Cunha and  (b) average per capita income per head of residents of Tristan Da Cunha;
	(4)  whether funding provided by his Department for repairs to the harbour on Tristan Da Cunha will be classified as official development assistance;
	(5)  how much funding his Department plans to provide for repairs to the harbour on Tristan Da Cunha.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK is obliged under the UN Charter to promote the well-being of the inhabitants of the Overseas Territories. Without urgent repair work, the harbour on Tristan da Cunha, which was severely damaged in a storm earlier this year, could be rendered unusable during the South Atlantic winter. Without a harbour, tourism and fishing, the major sources of income on the island, would be severely reduced and the island would require a significant extra subsidy from British taxpayers every year.
	To divulge estimated costs now would prejudice ongoing contractual negotiations. Final costs will be fully met by DFID and all funding will be classified as official development assistance (ODA).
	The current population of Tristan da Cunha is 265. Average per capita income is £3,100.

Members: Correspondence

Alan Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle of 29 October 2010 on child benefit.

David Gauke: holding answer 22 November 2010
	The Chancellor replied to the right hon. Member on 16 November.

Personal Income

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds for benchmarking purposes on the gross average wage on a purchasing power parity basis in each other OECD country.

Justine Greening: holding answer 15 November
	Treasury draws on data from a wide range of international data sources including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Monetary Fund, Eurostat, European Commission, and International Labour Organisation. Gross average wage public statistics can be found on the OECD's statistics website at:
	http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx

Personal Income

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds for benchmarking purposes on the marginal rate at average earnings in  (a) the United States,  (b) France,  (c) Germany,  (d) Italy,  (e) Spain,  (f) the Netherlands,  (g) Austria,  (h) Belgium,  (i) Sweden and  (j) Norway.

Justine Greening: holding answer 15 November 2010
	Treasury draws on data from a wide range of international data sources including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Monetary Fund, Eurostat, European Commission, and International Labour Organisation. Marginal rate at average earnings data for the countries listed can be found on the OECD's public statistics website at:
	http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx

Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Women Councillors Taskforce: Expenditure

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 81-2W, on ethnic minorities, which  (a) Task Force members and  (b) strategic partners attended each event; and what costs were incurred for each in respect of each event.

Lynne Featherstone: Expenses incurred by members of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women Councillors' Taskforce who attended and/or facilitated taskforce events were reimbursed by the Government Equalities Office. Not all taskforce members who led or attended an event incurred or claimed expenses.
	The following table gives a breakdown of taskforce members who incurred and claimed expenses for facilitating and/or attending an event or series of taskforce events:
	
		
			  Taskforce member  Event  Expenses  Amount  claimed  (£) 
			 Dr Anwara Ali TUC Facilitator fee 163 
			 Carol Francis Gloucester and South London Total for travel and facilitator fees for two events 260.40 
			 Humaira Khan Chilterns with Windsor and Maidenhead Travel and loss of earning 145.40 
			 Lorna Campbell Gloucester Travel and facilitator fees 217 
			 Lurline Champagnie OBE Tower Hamlets, Islington, TUC, Newcastle, Leicester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Luton, Bradford Total for travels accommodation costs and facilitators fees for nine events 1,671.19 
			 Maya de Souza Camden Facilitator 163 
			 Baroness Meral Ece OBE Chiltern and Camden Total for travel/ facilitators fees for two events 336 
			 Mia Jones Liverpool Travel 50.25 
			 Mimi Harker Harrow, South London, Chiltern/ Windsor and Maidenhead Total for travel and facilitator fees for three events 587 
			 Baroness Uddin TUC, Glasgow, Gloucester, Islington South London Total for travel costs for five events. (1)417.61 
			 Salma Yaqoob Swansea Facilitator fee 163 
			 Thea Khamis Newcastle Travel 83.29 
			 Francine Fernandes (strategic partner) Birmingham Facilitator fee 163 
			 (1) In addition, the GEO paid chair fees of £9,591.50 to Baroness Uddin for the period April 2008 to March 2009 at a daily rate of £500.

Commission on the Status of Women

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much the Government Equalities Office spent on attendance at the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York in February to March 2010; and how many civil servants attended the event.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) spent £17,726 on attendance at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in February to March 2010. This figure represents the costs for the delegation which accompanied the former Minister for Women and Equalities, who represented the United Kingdom (UK) at the CSW. In addition to attending CSW the former Minister held a series of bilateral meetings with United Nations representatives and country delegations to promote the early establishment of the United Nations Body on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women ('UN Women').
	The UK delegation for this two-week event is broken down as follows:
	The former Minister for Women and Equalities.
	One senior civil servant from the Government Equalities Office (GEO) for the first week only.
	One Private Secretary for part of the first week to support the Minister.
	One senior policy adviser from the GEO for the second week only.
	One senior policy advisor from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) official for the whole duration of the event. FCO funded his attendance.
	Additionally, one special adviser for part of the first week was paid by GEO and another funded by Cabinet Office.